Transfer unit for a multi-cylinder printing press



Sept. 22, 1959 W. G. MONTGOMERY ETAL TRANSFER UNIT FOR A MULTI-CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS Filed Au 18, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet. 1

INVENTOM WILLIAM a MONTGOMERY BY. SAMUEL A. HUFFMAN M, 'M' 7 Q3 n N #1 f w NE n9 :1 H N9 H G J N fin, 31 v mum m mm F4.|.-.

ATTQRNELKYS Filed Aug. 18. 1954 W. G. MONTGOMERY ETAL TRANSFER UNIT FOR A MULTI-CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTQRNEYS I 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 mom W. G. MONTGOMERY EI' AL TRANSFER UNIT FOR A MULTI-CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS lallllll|"lv.ll l||||| Filed Aug. 18. 1954 Sept. 22, 1959 INVENTORS' WILLIAM G. MONTGOMERY BY SAMUEL A- HUFFMAN -KJ 'Q ATTORNEYS s p 1959 w. G; MONTGOMERY L 7 2,905,084

TRANSFER UNIT FOR A MULTICYLINDER PRINTING PRESS V Filed Aug. 18. 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I i INVENTORS I 240 I WILLIAM G. MONTGOMERY 263 av SAMUEL A.HUFFMA N H 8 I 26'2 #ML AT R NEYS w. s. MONTGOMERY ETAL 2,905,084

Sept. 22, 1959 q TRANSFER UNIT FOR A MULTI-CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS Filed Aug. 18, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORJ WILLIAM e MONTGOMERY BY SAMUEL A. HUFFMAN ,TORNEYS FIG. I?) 254 Sept. 22,1959 m w. G. MONTGOMERY ETA!- 2,905,084

' TRANSFER uurr FOR A MULTI-CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS Filed Aug. 18, 1954 '1 Sheets-Sheet 7 I INVENTORS' WILLIA .MONTGOMERY BY SAMU A.HUFFMAN ATTO BN EYS United States Patent Q TRANSFER UNIT FkAsMULTI-QYL1NDER PRINTING PRESS- William G. Montgomery, Marietta, and Samuel A. Huttman, Cincinnati, Ohio; said Hulfman assignor to said Montgomery Application August 18, 1954, Serial. No. 450,585

12 Claims. (Cl. 101-191) "Our invention relates to transfer unit for a multicylinder printing press. It relates, more specifically, to a transfer unit for use in a multi-col'or press of the reciprocable bed and two-revolution cylinder type, but features thereof are not necessarily limited to that type of press.

This application is a contmuation-in-part of our co pending application Serial No. 197,218, filed November 24, 1950 and now Patent No. 2,737,110.

The transfer unit of the present invention has all of the basic features and advantages of the unit described in our copending application. In addition, it is provided with improvements which give it additional advantages.

As explained in said copending application, existing two-color flat-bed and cylinder printing presses have a transfer cylinder which has a diameter equal to one-half the diameter of the printing cylinders and which is located between the two printing cylinders for the purpose of carrying a sheet from one cylinder to the other. This arrangement has a number of disadvantages. In the first place, during the transfer of the sheet from one cylinder to the other, the wet ink of the printed surface is towards or next to the transfer cylinder surface. Consequently, great care and precaution must be taken and means provided to prevent the printed sheet from being smeared or smudged. Also, thick sheets, such as cardboard, are difficult or even impossible to bend around .the transfer cylinder without cracking or other such damage to the sheets. Furthermore, the transfer cylinder is. in a fixed position between the printing cylinders and cannot be moved away from either of the cylinders at any time and, therefore, it is very difiicult to make ready each of the printing cylinders because of interference'bythe transfer cylinder. In addition, the inkers are necessarily located on opposite sides of each of the printing cylinders and are, therefore, not identical, being right and left hand. Many of the parts of the two inkers are different because they are right and left hand. Adjustments and settings, therefore, are different and contrary to standard single-color practice requiring the most experienced pressrnen to make these adjustments and settings and it is also more difficult to adjust the two type forms which must necessarily be located diiferently than in single-color presses. The arrangement of the transfer cylinder relative to the printing cylinders makes it impossible to design a press with such a transfer arrangement to print more than two colors. Furthermore, with this transfer arrangement, cylinders of larger diameter are required and, consequently, a longer stroke of the bed is required than for single-color presses for printing the same size sheet. All of these disadvantages of prior art two-color presses are true whether the press is of the two-revolution cylinder type or the stop-cylinder type.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide a multi-color printing press of the type. indicated above which is provided with transfer means including register 2 ing devices which will: carry sheets from one cylinder to the next in absolute register.

A further object. is to: provide a multircolor press: of thety-peindicated wherein. the transfer means is such that the sheets are carried from cylinder to cylinder with nothing touching the printed side thereof so as to eliminate any danger of smearing.

Another object of our invention is to provide a multicolor press of the type indicated wherein the printed sheets. will: be transferred from one cylinder to the next in fiat condition which makes it possible tohandle heavy cardboard or the like without cracking or other damage thereto.

Another object of our invention isto provide a transfer unit which can be moved readily to a position to permit the make-ready operation without interference and in substantially the same manner as with a single color press.

Another object of our invention is: to provide a transfer unit for a multi-cyli'nder press which is so designed that it will move properly with the cylinders when they are both moved towards or from the bed or will move without binding when one cylinder only is moved relative to the bed, these movements. being accomplished without interference with the driving means for the transfer unit.

Stillanother object of our invention is to provide a transfer unit which consists of an endless conveyer extending between adjacent cylinders which carries a single gripper bar so that successive sheets are engaged and removed from the impression cylinder by the same gripper bar thereby ensuring registery with the next cylinder to which each sheet is transferred.

A further object of our invention is to provide a transfer tmit of the type indicated in which the endless conveyer is of such design and construction that it will be of accurate predetermined dimensions and will maintain such dimensions during extended use so that accurate registry can be obtained and maintained.

Various other objects will be apparent from the drawings and the following description and claims.

The preferred embodiment of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of our transfer unit showing it applied to a multi-cylinder press.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the transfer unit.

Figure 3 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 5 showing one end of the gripper bar of the transfer unit.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through the transfer unit along line 44 of Figure 5 and showing how it is associated with one of the cylinders of the press.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of one end of the transfer unit taken substantially along line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken along line -66 of, Figure 4 showing the gripper bar in association with one of the cylinders.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view through the conveyer belt taken along line 77 of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through a portion of the conveyer belt along line 88 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a vertical longitudinal sectional diagrammatic view illustrating the gripper bar and an associated cylinder from which the printed sheet is being transferred, the grippers on the cylinder being in engagement with the sheet and the grippers on the gripper bar being in position to engage the sheet.

Figure 10 is a similar view but showing both sets of grippers in engagement with the sheet.

Figure 11 is a similar view but showing the cylinder grippers released from the sheet and the bar grippers engaging the sheet.

Figure 12 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken along line 1212 of Figure 2 through one of the transverse tube units at the end of the transfer unit and showing the cam associated therewith for preventing outward deflection of the gripper bar as it passes therearound.

Figure 13 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 1313 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a side elevational view taken along line 1-4-14 of Figure 4 showing how the transfer frame is supported at one sideon the impression cylinder for vertical movement therewith.

Figure 15 is a similar view but taken on line 1515 of Figure 4 to show the supporting means at the other side of the transferunit.

Figure 16 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 1616 of Figure 4 showing the registering racks on the end of the gripper bar and the cylinder shell.

We have illustrated and will describe our transfer unit applied to a multi-cylinder flat bed and cylinder printing press of the type shown and described in our copending applications Serial No. 197,218, filed November 24, 1950, and now Patent No. 2,737,110 and Serial No. 444,968, filed July 22, 19 54, and now Patent No. 2,790,383 which we will designate respectively as our first and second copending applications. However, it is to be understood that it may be applied to other types of presses. The press shown in the drawings is of the type in which the bed is reciproca-ted with a full harmonic motion, each impression cylinder is rotated in the same direction at all times regardless of the direction of movement of the bed, the rotation of each cylinder is timed with the movement of the bed so that cylinder rotation and bed motion are in exact synchronism at all times, and each cylinder is in contact with a form carried by the bed during movement of the bed in one direction, that is, during the printing stroke, but is lifted therefrom during movement of the bed in the opposite direction, that is, during the return stroke. The transfer unit of this invention is adapted to transfer the printed sheet from one impression cylinder to another in exact registry so that one cylinder can print one color and the other cylinder another color. Although, we have shown only a single transfer unit applied to the press, it is to be understood that it may be used in any suitable numbers depending upon the number of cylinders on the press.

In Figure 1, we have illustrated our transfer unit 34 disposed between the impression cylinder 32 and the impression cylinder 33 for transferring the sheets, after being printed on cylinder 33, to the cylinder 32 in exact registry.

The general structure of this press is the same as that shown in our second copending application. It includes the single bed 30 which is mounted on the main frame 31 for reciprocation longitudinally thereof in a horizontal plane and two transversely disposed impression cylinders 32 and 33 which are carried by the frame and are located above the path of movement of the bed, the cylinders having their transverse axes spaced longitudinally of the press. These two cylinders 32 and 33 are adapted to cooperate with two printing forms F which will be suitably removably attached to the bed 30 at proper locations spaced longitudinally of the bed.

In the press illustrated, we have shown the bed horizontally disposed. However, our invention is not necessarily limited to a horizontal press but the features thereof can apply to a vertical press. The press illustrated in Figure 1 is for printing two colors, since it is shown with two impression cylinders, but it is to be understood that the press may have any number of cylinders which will be used with the same number of forms supported on the bed in properly spaced relationship, the number of cylinders depending upon the number of colors desired, and

the number of our transfer units depending upon the number of cylinders.

The frame 31 is described in detail in our first copending application and supports the bed 30 for longitudinal reciprocation. The driving mechanism for the bed 30 reciprocates with a full harmonic motion and includes a rack 62 which is carried by a Scotch yoke 60, and which is reciprocated by means of a crank roller 56 which operates in a vertical slot or groove 58 formed in the Scotch yoke, the roller 56 being carried by a driven crank gear 50.

The crank gear 50 is driven by means of a pinion 49 which meshes therewith and which is keyed on the transverse shaft 44 that is driven continuously, when the press is operating, by means of a sprocket 47 keyed thereon. This sprocket '47 is driven by a chain 48 from an electric motor 48a supported at one end of the press within the frame 31.

The rack bar 62 of the yoke 60 engages a pinion 72, as shown in Figure 1, and this pinion is keyed on a hollow transverse shaft ,73. Thus, reciprocation of the yoke 60 will oscillate the pinion 72 and thereby oscillate the shaft 73, and this shaft reciprocates the bed 30 as described in our second copending application. As previously indicated, the impression cylinders 32 and 33, which are carried on the frame 31 above the bed 30, are rotated in one direction at all times and in exact synchronism with the bed 30 at all times. These cylinders are driven from the bed driving means by a variable speed drive which drives the cylinders in the same direction during the movement of the bed in both directions. Driving of the impression shells of the cylinders 32 and 33, as explained in our second copending application, is accomplished with a single clutch unit 103 which is associated with the shaft 73. The clutch 103 simultaneously drives the gears 141 and 142 in the same direction and these gears mesh, respectively, with the cylinder gears. 143 and 144 associated with the cylinders 32 and 33.

As further explained in our second copending application, the impression shells of the cylinders 32 and 33 are raised and lowered relative to the bed 30 during the return and printing stroke, respectively, of the bed by means of an eccentric arrangement associated with each cylinder and actuated by a rack member 167, which is recip-rocably mounted on the frame 31, through a crank and connecting rod arrangement 162. The rack member 167 is reciprocatedby means of a gear segment which is oscillated by means of a roller 186 that operates in a cam track 188 in the driven crank gear 50.

Thus, the cylinders 32 and 33 are driven in the same direction and are raised and lowered in timed relationship to the movement of the bed 30.

The transfer unit 34, as previously indicated, is disposed between the cylinders 32 and 33 and will move vertically with either one or both of the cylinders.

The unit 34 includes the side frame members 200 and 201 as shown best in Figures 2 and 4 which extend longitudinally at each side of the press between and above the level of the cylinders 32 and 33. These frame members are joined together by transverse hollow tie rods 202 and 203, disposed adjacent the ends of the frame members, which also serve as supports for the endless conveyor as will be apparent later. Both rods 202 and 203 are connected to the frame members 200 and 201 in the same manner and in Figure 4 we have illustrated the connecting arrangement for the rod 203. It will be noted from this figure that each frame member has the lag bolts 204 extending therethrough and into the adjacent end of the rod 203. Thus, the frame members 200 and 201 are rigidly tied together by the tie rods 202 and 203.

The transfer unit 34 is supported by the eccentrics which produce the raising and lowering of the impression shells of the cylinders 32 and 33, in the manner described in our second copending application, so that the transfer unit will be raised and lowered with the cylinders. Each cylinder has an eccentric shaft associated with it and in Figure 4 we have shown the eccentric shaft 153 which is oscillated by the connecting rod 162 that is connected to the lugs 160 extending radially therefrom, the rod 162 being shown in Figure 1 but not in Figure 4. The frame members 200 and 201 are supported at their ends by the eccentric shafts 153 of the respective cylinders 32and 33. For this purpose, the frame member 200 is provided at each end with a downwardly and outwardly extending supporting ,arm 205 (Figures and 14.) and the frame member201 is provided with a similar arm 206 at each end, onebeing shown in Figures 4 and 15. Each of the supporting arms 205 is provided with a supporting yoke 207 formed on its lower end (Figures 4, 5 and 14) which will rest on a bearing disc 208 (Fig ure 4) :which is bolted by thelag bolts 208a to the adjacenteccentric trunnion end 156 of theassociated cylinder shaft .153. Disc 208 isconcentric with the main part of the shaft 153as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 14, Where .a is the center of the cylinder shell154 and disc .208 and b is the center of the trunnion end .156. Each-of the supporting arms 206 has a supporting yoke 209 (Figures 4 and .15) which. engages the hub of aring gear210 that is keyed to the ring 154a whichis a part of and movessvertically with' the cylinder shell 154. The axis of the hub of thegear 210 is concentric with the cylinder shell and-eccentric to the axisof the trunnion end 155 of the cylinder shaft 153, and its bearing 1 57, as shown by the center lines in Figure 15 where a is the,center of gear 210 and b is the center of the trunnion end 155. The gear 210 is concentric with the ring 154a which is eccentric withthe trunnion155. Thegear 210-will serve as a transfer registering and driving gear and since it will rotate with the shell 154 and will move vertically therewith, the frame member 201 will move vertically to thesame extent and atthesame time as the frame member 200 which is moved by disc 208.

\With this arrangement, the entire transfer unit canbe swung upwardly out ofthe way, either about the common axis adjacent the cylinder 33 which runs through the gear 210 and the disc 208 or the common. axis adjacent the. other cylinder 32 which runsithrough corresponding members. This will permit:make-ready in a manner like thatfollowed previously'in a single colorpress since it willpermit ready access to the inkerrollers I (Figure 1) whichuare located adjacentthe cylinder 33in the usual location for a :singlecylinder press. .The inkers I for the cylinder .32 are similarly located relative .to that cylinder.

Ateach end ,of the transfer'unit 34 lockingmeans is providedfor locking the corresponding end of the transfer unit in association with theadjacentcylinder. The lockingmeansatthe end adjacent the cylinder 33 isshown in Figures 4, l4 and 15. This .means com.- prises a locking lever 211 which is'shown at.the left hand side in Figure 4 and. in Figure:14. Thisilever is pivoted at 212 to the arm 205 of thetransfer frame. The lower outwardly turned hooked-end 21 3 of' the lever normally extends intoan annular groove .214 formed concentrically. in the bearing member208. The hooked end is normally held in the grooveby means of atension spring 215 :provided between the-upper end of the lever 211 and the arm 205. A slot 216 in the arm 205 perrmitsthe necessary swinging movement of the lower end of the lever. The upper endof thelever 211 is connectedby a pin and slot connection 217 to one end of a .coiinectingrod218 which passes throughthe hollow tierod 203 and connects at its other end by a pin and slot connection 219 to a hand lever v220. The hand lever "220 is pivoted at.221 for swinging in asslot in the arm 206 and has an inwardly turned hooked end 222 which normally extends into an annular groove 223 formed concentrically in, the gear1210.

Thehand-lever 220 canbe pushed inwardly, overass ss;

Coming the forcecf the spring 215 to swing thehooked lever end 222 out of the groove 223 and the hooked lever end 213 out of the groove 214. This will release that end of thetransfer unit 34 and it canjthen be-swung upwardly away from the cylinder 33 andaboutthe supporting members 208- aud 210 adjacent the cylinder 32. The locking means at the other end can. be released in a similar manner to permit upward swinging of that end of the transfer unit.

The conveyerof the transfer unit 34 is driven and is registered with the cylinders 32 and 33 by means of the gears 210 which mesh with the conveyor driving gears 224 and 225 (Figure 2) at opposite ends of the transfer unit. Each of these gears 224 and 225 is secured to an adjacent sprocket 226 and 227, respectively. The combined gear and sprocket unit -224-226 is keyed on the adjacent end of a sleeve 228 and the combined gear and sprocket unit 225227 is keyed on the corresponding end of a sleeve 229. These sleeves are similarlymounted onthe transfer frame tie rods202 and 203 and in Figure 4 we have shown how the sleeve 229 is mounted onjt'ne rod .203. The sleeve 229 is carried on the rod203 by means of the bushings 230 at its opposite ends. The. other ends of the sleeves 228 and 229 respectively carry the sprockets 231 and 232 (Figure 2) which are keyed thereon. Thus, there is provided a pair of sprockets .226 and 227 at one side for supporting the endless conveyer belt 233 and a pair of sprockets 231 and 2.32 at the oppo site .side for supporting an endless conveyer belt 234.

The structure of the conveyer-belts 233 and 234 is an important feature of this invention. The belts are illustrated in detail in Figures 7 and 8. Each belt is made of a continuous web or body 240 which has: the transverse teeth or cleats 241 that cooperate with the sprockets as they pass therearound.

. The web or body is made of rubber or similar material which is compressible and will be substantially free of noise in passing around the sprockets. This material will not be worn readily by the sprockets. To ensureex treme accuracy in the registering of the gripper bar, which is carried by. the belts as will later appear, with the cylinders, there is embedded in the weblongitudinally ex tending tensile members 242, shown as being in the form of metal cables. These cables will not stretch under operating conditions of the press and, therefore, the belts can be made of accurate lengths and such accuracy will bemaintained and accurate registry will be ensured.

Thetwo belts aredisposed within the side framemembers 200 and 201, as shown in Figure 4. The sprocket 227 has the inner end of its hub bearing against an inner guard plate 243 which is bolted to the frame member 201. The sprocket 226 is similarly disposed relative to the guard plate. This -plate243 is provided with an endless guide slot 244 through which the carriage rollers of the transfer gripper bar will travel as will later appear. The frame member 200 is provided with a similar inner guard plate 245 which has the endless slot .246 inalignment with the slot 244. The ends of the slots 244 and 2146 are concentric with the adjacenttubes 228 and 229 and their upper and lower branches are parallel with each other. The sprockets226 and 227 are identical with the sprockets 231 and 232 except that the driving gears 224 and 225 are associated with the sprockets 226 and227. The belts are kept in position laterally on each sprocket (Figure 4) by upstanding flanges 247 and 248, the inner flange being removably mounted by bolts, as shown, to permit removal of the belts.

The tubular units including the rod 202 and the tube 228 atone end of the transfer unit and therod 203 and tube 229 at the other end are connected together to prevent. outward displacement or flexing, during operation of the transfer unit, by .a reinforcing bar 250 (Figure 2) which extends longitudinally of the transfer unit and is disposed midway between the frame members 200 and 201. This rod 250 is provided with an integral collar 251 7 atone end through which the sleeve 228 passes and a collar 252 at its other end through which the tube 229 passes. The collar 251 has a earn 253 formed integrally therewith and the collar 252 has a earn 254 formed integrally therewith.

The manner in which the collar 252 is mounted on the sleeve 229 is shown in Figures 12 and 13 and the collar 251 is similarly mounted on the sleeve 228. The collar 252 is disposed on a bushing 252a which is keyed to the sleeve 229 by a set-screw 255 and rotates therewith and within the collar. The collar 252 is prevented from moving axially by means of a lip 256 on one end of the bushing and a retaining ring 257 mounted on the other end of the bushing by a screw 255. It will be apparent that the side frame members, the tube units and the reinforcing rod provide a rigid transfer unit free of deflection.

To ensure accuracy in registering the sheets we use only a single transfer gripper bar 260 (Figure 2) on our transfer unit 34. Thus, the successive printed sheets are removed from one cylinder and delivered to the next by the same gripper bar which ensures registry with the next cylinder to which each sheet is transferred. This gripper bar extends transversely of the transfer unit 34 between the belts 233 and 234 and has its ends secured to such belts. The ends of the gripper bar are fastened to the belts 233 and 234 in the manner illustrated in Figure 4 and in Figures 7 and 8 where the belt 233 is shown. As shown in Figure 4, each end of the gripper bar 260 is provided with an attaching bracket 261 which is rigidly lbolted thereto. The bracket 261, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, is provided with a fiat outward extension 262 which engages the outer surface of the web 240 of the belt in flat contact therewith. This extension is riveted to the web of the belt by a row of rivets 263 disposed between adjacent cleats or teeth 241, the rivets passing between the cables 242. Thus, the ends of the gripper bar will be securely fastened to the belts 233 and 234.

The transfer gripper bar 260 includes the transversely extending gripper pad shaft 270 (Figures 6, and 9 to 11) and the transversely extending gripper shaft 271 which is disposed directly ahead of the shaft 278. As shown in Figure 3, the shaft 271? is non-rotatably fitted on an inwardly projecting sleeve 272 which extends inwardly from a carriage roller bracket 273 provided at each end of the gripper bar 260. The gripper shaft 271 is similarly fitted on an inwardly projecting sleeve 274 which is integral with an outwardly extending stub-shaft 275 that rotatably fits in the bracket 273. Mounted on the bracket 273 concentrically with the shaft 275 is a leading roller 276 and mounted on the bracket behind the shaft 270 is a trailing roller 277. Each set of rollers operates in one of the endless slots 244 and 246 formed in the respective side frame members 208 and 201. To ensure registry of the sheet, handled by the gripper bar, laterally, each of the brackets 273 is provided with a vertical spindle 278 (Figure 2) on which a roller 279 is mounted. As shown in Figure 2, these rollers engage the inner faces of the plates 243 and 245 to keep the transfer gripper bar 260 in an exact position laterally of the transfer unit 34 during its travel longitudinally of such unit. The ends of the gripper bar 260, as previously indicated, are attached by the brackets 261 to the belts 233 and 234. The attaching brackets 261 are bolted to the carriage brackets 273 just ahead of the rollers 279 as shown in Figure 2.

Carried in alignment with the attaching bracket 261 at each end of the gripper shaft 271 is a shaft oscillating roller 280 which is mounted on a horizontal spindle rigidly carried by a collar 281 which is keyed to the end of the shaft 271. If the collar 281 is oscillated, the shaft 271 is oscillated and, therefore, the grippers carried thereby are oscillated. The collar is oscillated by the roller 280 engaging cams at the ends of the transfer unit as the gripper bar 260 travels therearound. These gripper shaft oscillating cams are provided on each end of each of the side plates 200 and 201 which support them at the inner edges of the respective roller guide slots243 and 245 where they curve around the lower sides of the tubes 228 and 229, adjacent the sprockets 226, 227, 231 and 232, as shown in Figures 2, 5 and 6, and are designated respectively by the numerals 281, 282, 283 and 284 in Figure 2. Figure 5 shows the cam 284, adjacent the sprocket 227, in detail. To aid in obtaining exact registry of the gripper bar 260 axially of the cylinder shells 154 during the transfer periods, cam bosses 285, 286, 287 and 288 are formed on the inner surfaces of plates 200 and 201 adjacent the cams 281, 282, 283, and 284 so that the gripper bar rollers 279 will cooperate therewith and the gripper bar will be accurately located axially of the cylinder shells during the transfer periods.

To prevent deflection of the transfer gripper bar 260" during its travel around the transfer unit, it is trussed for reinforcement by truss members in the form of the wires 290 which extend from one end of the rod to the other at the leading and trailing sides of the rod. These members have their ends anchored in the carriage brackets 273 and pass through notches in the outer ends of the oppositely extending diametrically opposed radial arms 291 which are carried by a bracket 292 midway between the ends of the gripper bar. The gripper pad shaft 270is keyed in this bracket 292 while the gripper shaft 271 is oscillatable therein. This bracket 292 also carries a pair of rollers 293 which are mounted on horizontal spindles and which are adapted to cooperate with the anti: deflection cams 253 and 254 provided on the collars 251* and 252 at each end of the transfer unit. These cams 253 and 254 as indicated in Figure 12 are engaged by the rollers 293 as the gripper bar passes around the end of the transfer unit in order to prevent centrifugal force from causing the gripper bar 260 to bow outwardly atits midpoint during the high speed travel of the transfer unit. This will also help in obtaining exact registry at the critical transfer point. To further aid in obtaining exact registry, the gripper bar 260 (Figures 4 and 16) is provided at each end with register racks for cooperating with similar racks on the impression shells of cylinders 32 and 33. As shown in Figure 16, each rack 300 is pro vided at the inner side of the carriage bracket 27 3 being suitably bolted thereto. The register racks .300 on oppo' site ends of the gripper bar 260 will cooperate with register racks 301 carried on each end of each cylinder shell 154, being bolted thereto as shown in Figures 4" and 16. The racks 3011 on the cylinder shells are so" located that they cooperate at the proper times with the racks 300 during the sheet transfer periods.

It will be understood that the cylinders 32 and 33 are provided with the usual grippers and gripper pads and with the usual means for operating them. In Figures 9 to 11, we have illustrated the cylinder 33 provided with the pads 294 and with the cooperating grippers 295. The

operating mechanism for the grippers 295 will serve to swing the grippers relative to the pads to open and close the grippers at the proper times. The gripper shaft 271 carries the transfer grippers 296 which cooperate with the gripper pads 297 carried on the shaft 270 in alignment therewith. The grippers 296 oscillate with the shaft 271 relative to the pads 297. It will be understood that the transfer grippers 296 are in alignment with the pads 297 but are staggered relative to the cylinder grippers The sheet S (Figure 9) will at this time be gripped be-. tween the cylinder grippers 295 and the pads 294. The; transfer grippers 296 will be spaced from the transfer gripper pads 297 As the bar 260 continues to move, the grippers 296 will be rocked into engagement with the pads297 as shown in Figure 10. As the gripper bar 260 continues to move and the cylinder 33 continues to rotate, the cylinder grippers 295 are rocked away from the cylinder gripper pads 294 to free the sheet and complete its transfer to the bar 260 as shown in Figure 11 where it is gripped by grippers 2.76 and pads 277. Exact registry of the-transfer gripper bar 260 laterally relative to the cylinder 33 during the transfer period results from. the rollers 273 cooperatingwith the cam surfaces 285 and 286 on the side plates 243 and 245. Circumferential registry is accomplished by the register racks 300 at each end of the bar 260 gradually entering into registry with the register racks 301 on the cylinder shell 154 'as the gripper 'bar 260 moves around the end of the transfer unit. Deflection of the bar 260 as it approaches transfer position'is prevented by the rollers 293 engaging the cam 253 or the cam 254. The belts 233 and 234, dueto their nature, can be formed accurately of exact dimensions, with the bar 260 located accurately longitudinally thereof and the belts will not stretch due to the cables therein, the gears 10 performing a registering function as well as a driving function. Thus, exact registry longitudinally of the transfer unit, axially of the cylinders and circumferentially of the cylinders, will be obtained even at very high speeds. The sheet will now be carried by the transfer gripper bar 260 over a plate or web 298 (Figures 2 and 5) which is provided between the side frame members 200 and 201 at the lower edges thereof and which extends between the two cylinders 32 and 33. As the gripper bar 260 approaches the cylinder 32, the various registering and anti-deflection devices will function in the manner previously indicated and the gripping means on the bar and the cylinder will function in the same manner as illustrated in Figures 9 to 11 but in a reverse order so as to transfer the sheet from the bar 260 to the cylinder 32. Due to the nature of the belts 233 and 234, Wear will be at a minimum. Also, noise of the operation of the transfer unit will be kept at a minimum.

The belts 233 and 234 will be driven at all times from the cylinder driving means and in time relationship thereto. Both gears 210, driven with the cylinders 32 and 33, will engage the belt driving gears 224 and 225 to drive the belts in timed relationship to the cylinders. This drive will be maintained during lifting of one or both of the cylinders by means of the eccentric cylinder lifting means which includes the crank and rod arrangement 162 of Figure 1. Lateral displacement of the transfer unit 34 is precluded by the arms 205 engaging the outer sides of the frame portions 159 (Figure 4) and the arms 206 engaging the outer surfaces of the gears 210. Either end of the transfer unit may be swung up out of the way, to facilitate make-ready as previously indicated.

With reference to Figure 1, a suitable feedboard arrangement, illustrated diagrammatically at 310, will be provided for feeding the sheets S to cylinder 33 and a suit able delivery mechanism, illustrated diagrammatically at 311, will be provided for taking the sheets from the cylinder 32. The delivery mechanism is driven by cylinder gear 143 as shown. The feed from feedboard 310 to the cylinder 33 will occur just as the cylinder 33 comes to a stop. Similarly, the delivery of the sheet from the cylinder 32 to the delivery mechanism 311 will occur just as the cylinder 32 comes to a stop.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim is:

1. A flat bed and cylinder printing press comprising a bed and a plurality of rotatable cylinders disposed transversely of the bed and spaced longitudinally thereof, said bed supporting a plurality of type forms extending transversely thereof and spaced longitudinally thereof for cooperating respectively with the spaced cylinders, means for rotating the cylinders, transfer mechanism between the cylinders for transferring a sheet from one cylinder to the next, said transfer mechanism comprising an endless conveyer extending from one cylinder to the next, said conveyer comprising endless belts made of non-metallic material having endless longitudinally extending tensile members embedded therein, and means carried by the belts for gripping the sheet, comprising a pair of parallel longitudinally extending belts, said transfer mechanism including a transversely extending gripper rod unit having its ends fastened to said belts, and means for ensuring that the rod unit will register transversely with the;cylinders, said means comprising guide members carried by-the gripper rod unit and relatively fixed longitudinal guide plates extending between said cylinders.

2. A fiat bed and cylinder printing press comprising .a single reciprocable bed and a -plurality of rotatable cylinders and consisting of at least one pair of first and second cylinders disposed transversely of the bed and spaced longitudinally thereof, said :bed supporting longitudinally spacedtransversely extending type forms foi cooperating with said first and second cylinders respectively, means for rotating all the cylinders at the same speed in one direction only and all in the same direction at all times, means for supporting the cylinders for movement towards and from the bed in synchronism with the movement of the bed so that they contact therewith during the printing stroke and are spaced therefrom during the return stroke, transfer mechanism extending between the first and second cylinders for transferring a sheet from the first cylinder to the second cylinder, means for supporting said transfer mechanism for movement with the cylinders towards and from the bed, said transfer mechanism comprising an endless conveyor in the form of endless belts extending from the first cylinder to the second cylinder only, a single sheet gripper rod unit carried by the conveyer so that each successive sheet will be gripped by the same gripper rod unit to insure registry with the next cylinder and means for operating said gripper rod unit in timed relationship to the rotation of the cylinders to grip a sheet and remove it from one cylinder and release it to the next cylinder, said means comprising an actuating member mounted on the gripper rod unit and means adjacent said cylinder for engaging said actuating member, said transfer unit being supported by a pair of side frame members extending the length of the unit and disposed at right angles to the gripper rod unit, endless roller guides carried by said side members and extending the length thereof, said gripper rod unit having guide rollers mounted on its ends which operate in said guides to guide the gripper rod unit during its complete cycle of travel with said belts.

3. A printing press according to claim 2 wherein the means for ensuring registry of the gripper rod unit transversely comprises rollers carried by the ends of the rod unit on axes at right angles to the axes of said guide rollers and which engage said side frame members.

4. A printing press according to claim 3 in which the side frame members are connected together at their ends by transverse connecting rods, cams carried by said rods intermediate their ends, and rollers carried by said gripper rod unit for engaging said cams as the rod unit travels around the ends of said conveyer to prevent flexing of the rod unit by centrifugal force.

5. A printing press according to claim 4 in which a reinforcing rod extends longitudinally between said side frame members and is connected at its opposite ends to said transverse connecting rods.

6. A printing press according to claim 5 in which the gripper rod unit is provided with reinforcing trussing extending longitudinally thereof, said trussing being in the form of wires extending from one end to the other of said rod unit, and radially extending arms intermediate the ends of said rod unit which engage said wires and bow them outwardly.

7. A printing press according to claim 5 in which sprocket shafts extend through said connecting rods which are hollow, sprockets on the opposite ends of said shaft and upon which said endless members in the form of chains are mounted, and means for driving said sprockets 8. A printing press according to claim 7 in which said gripper rod unit includes movable grippers, means for operating said grippers as the rod unit is carried around the ends of the conveyer, said operating means compris-. ing cams supported at the ends of said frame members and rollers carried at the ends of said rod unit for engagingsaid cams as the rod unit is carried around the ends of the conveyer.

9. A printing press according to claim 8 in which the supporting means for the transfer unit comprises rotatable eccentric members associated with the cylinders, and supporting arms secured to said frame members and carried by said eccentrics.

10. A printing press according to claim 9 in which said arms have yokes which straddle the eccentrics, and means for locking the arms in association with the eccentrics.

11. A printing press according to claim 10 in which a r 12 a an independent locking means is provided at each end of the transfer unit. 7

.12. A printing press according to claim 9 including means associated with the eccentrics for driving the sprockets continuously, said means comprising geans carried by and concentric with said sprockets which mesh with gears carried by and concentric with said cylinders.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 368,532 Huber Aug. 16, 1887 412,878 Cottrell Oct. 15, 1889 1,050,857 Sheldon Jan. 21, .1913 2,198,385 Harrold Apr. 23, 1940 2,245,343 Hunting June 10, 1941 2,507,852 Case May 16, 1950 

